The Fall

The vampiric virus unleashed in The Strain has taken over New York City. It is spreading across the country and soon, the world. Amid the chaos, Eph Goodweather, head of the CDC's team and one of a small group who have banded together to fight the bloodthirsty monsters that roam the streets, finally manages to identify the parasite that causes the infection. But it may be too late.

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Second volume in "The Strain" trilogy, a collaboration between filmmaker Guillermo del Toro ("Pan's Labyrinth," "Hellboy") and novelist Chuck Hogan (one of his books was made into "The Town"). It combines an extinction level plague/disease plot with vampires and an ancient evil. While it has a lot of familiar elements, they manage to do something fresh and frightening. The series "The Strain" is currently in its second season. Followed by "The Night Eternal."

It's a fast read and very entertaining. Not overly scary, but more akin to "disaster porn." This book makes a vampire apocalypse seem plausible. Reminds me of "World War Z" in this respect. I knocked it out in two days, and started immediately on the final book in the trilogy.

I loved both books! Easy reading and entertaining. Can't wait to see how it comes together in the final book!!

PrimaGigi
Oct 09, 2011

Excellent! I loved this book, I loved that Hogan and Del Toro work in the world's issues into their books tying it into people's greatest fear, the destuction of structure and humanity; our morals and our set system as we know it. Both writiers open up to us the reality;of how we most control all around us and we deny that anything is wrong when we spiral out of control. Yet, it also shows through all the decay and loss of our former strictures human perverance, the will to survive and to keep going even when everything and everyone you know is gone. Love is our downfall, but it might be what saves us from the things we can't control... the love of our kin, the love of mankind and the humane love we show to each other in times of desperate biology need to connect with people and to save each other...

I also find it interesting how they mixed in the Holocaust (also how the Nazi's (I.E. Vampires) extreminated so many people) with vampirism.

This is the 2nd book in "The Strain" trilogy about a vampire virus wiping out humanity. These are very fun and easy to read books for those that like horror fiction in the vein of classic Stephen King or Dean Koontz. I don't think the Fall does as good of a job at establishing as much forboding, suspense and terror as the Strain did, as at the start of the book you already know the vampire's main plan (just not the extent or full evil nature of it). But the action pieces and plot move briskly and all the main characters are interesting (except for maybe the kid). Certainly I can't wait until the 3rd book comes out late in 2011. If you like these books you really should also read The Passage, by Justin Cronin.

I didn't like The Fall as much as the first book. The mystery component that made The Strain worthwhile is lacking here. The beginning feels like more of the same, although it does pick up about halfway through. Not the most memorable read.